Pusher conveyer structure



5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 11 -HHHHHHHMHHHQ INVENTO 6/ 4M a w/d 50% ffi jm ATTORNEY June 1951 H. w. HAPMAN PUSHER CONVEYER STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 ATTORNE June 12, 1951 H. w. HAPMAN PUSHER CONVEYER STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 INVENT ATTOR June 12, 1951 H. w. HAPMAN PUSHER CONVEYER STRUCTURE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 WWW @NH ATTORNE H. W. HAPMAN PUSHER CONVEYER STRUCTURE June 12, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Aug. 18, 1945 w mwm JNVE TOR.

amid y I Patented June 12, 195i U N I T E S '5,

ran-i ossic PUSHER CONVEYER STRUCTURE Application August 18, 1945, Serial N 0. 611,380.

'7 Claims. 1

Thepresent invention relates to improvements in vconveyorsand has reference'more particularly to the movement of the endless conveyor element outof the flow path while the same is traversing turns, bends-or wherever a direction of the endless conveyor-element is changed.

Theprimaryobject of the invention is to provide a conveyor structure. with conveyor displacing and guiding devices at the turns or bends thereof for. causing the conveyor element to move out ofthe flow path while negotiating the bend or turn so as to, prevent the material being handled-from cloggingor becoming packed about the gear, pulley or sprocket wheels employed for guiding and driving the endless conveyor element.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor structure having conveyor displacing and, guiding devices at the various bends or turns thereof for causing the conveyor element to travel in a, sinuous pathway about a pulley, sprocket or gear wheel which is mounted outside of the bend or turn in such a manner as to cause the. material to be freedfrom the endless conveyor element while thelsame'is traversing said gear, sprocket or pulley, wheel.

Another object of the invention is to provide a a conveyor structure having conveyor displacing and guiding devices in which the various pulley.,-.gear and sprocket wheels for guiding the endless conveyor element are arranged out of the flow pathof the material being handled so that the material w-ill'not causeexcessive wear of the bearings of the sprocket, pulley or gear wheel over which the endless conveyor element the, various vertical and horizontal courses 011 ,50

said endless conveyor element about said bend orturn-and-will again be picked up by the con- 2' veyor element for being conveyed along another course.

Another object of the invention is to provide a conveyor displacing and guiding device of the above-mentioned type in which the conveyor pulley, sprocket or gear wheels over which the endless conveyor element is trained may be adjusted toprovide a take-up to eliminate slack in the endless conveyor element and compensate for wear of the endless conveyor links and pins.

Other: objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a runaround conveyor structure illustrating the manner in which the invention is applied thereto;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of one of the conveyor displacing and guiding: devices employed in the run-around conveyor for guiding the endless conveyor element during its travel from the vertical portion of the housing to the horizontal portion;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the zigzag line 33 of Figure 2 lookingin thev direction of the arrows showing the manner in which the traversing sprocket wheel or pulley is arranged for adjustment and wear take-up;

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the arrows and illustrating the contour of the: housing and the manner in which the sprocket, pulley or gear is adjustably sup ported for wear take-up;

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the conveyor displacing and guiding device for guiding the endless conveyor elements from a horizontal course to a vertical course;

Figure Sis a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the zigzag line 5-5 in Figure 5 locking in the direction of the arrows and further illustrating thearrangement of the various traversing drive and idler sprocket, pulley or gear wheels for guiding the endless conveyor element from a horizontal course'to a vertical course;

Figure 7 is a sideelevational view of a modified form of the invention similar to that shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive-but constructed for use inconnection with an L-type or Z-type conveyor structure;

Figure 8 is. a diagonal cross-sectional view taken on theoblique line 8-8 in Figure 7 looking in -the direction of the arrows and further illustrating the arrangement of the pulley, sprocket. or gear wheel employed for removing the end.

3 less conveyor element from the flow path while negotiating a turn or bend;

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of an L or Z-type conveyor structure upon which the guiding and traversing mechanism as shown in Figures '7 and 8 is intended to be used;

Figure 10 is a transverse cross-sectional view of an endless conveyor element showing one form of fiight structure which may be used with the conveyor structure shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive;

Figure 11 is a transverse cross-sectional view of another type of endless conveyor structure and pulley which may be used with the conveyor structure shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive;

Figure 12 is a transverse cross-sectional view or an endless conveyor element having round or disc-like flights secured to a sprocket chain and passed over a sprocket wheel; and

Figure 13 is a transverse cross-sectional view of another type of endless conveyor element and form of pulley wheel which may be used throughout the various forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive in lieu of the sprocket chain type endless conveyor.

Detailed description of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive As shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the invention is applied to a run-around conveyor including parallel upper and lower conveyor conduits 5 and 6 connected by vertically extending conduits l and 8. The vertical conveyor conduits i and 8 are connected to the lower horizontal conduit 6 by means of elbows 9 and I0, and the upper horizontal conduit 5 is adapted to be connected to the vertical conduits l and 8 by conveyor displacing and guiding devices, generally designated I l and I2. Interposed in the lower conveyor conduit 6 is a series of fittings I3, I4 and I5 havin vertical feed pipes I6, I? and I8 for connecting hoppers or bins I9, and 2| with the lower course or horizontal run 6.

The upper conduit or horizontal cours 5 is adapted to be provided with a series of equidistantly spaced discharge openings 5a in the underside thereof for discharging material into a discharge hopper or chute 5b into hoppers to be conveyed to a point remote from the bins or hoppers I9, 20 and 2 l.

The circuitous conveyor conduit is provided with an endless conveyor therein including a sprocket chain made up of a serie of endless chain links 22 (Figure 5) which are joined by a hooked portion 23 at one end thereof secured to the loop of an adjacent link 22. The chain links 22 are provided with laterally extending lugs 24 to which the conveyor flights are secured. The conveyor flights may be constructed in accordance with the type of conveyor housing or conduit being employed and may take any one of the forms as shown in Figures 10 to 13 inclusive. However, as shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, the conveyor flights are constructed of a disc of rubber or synthetic rubber composition 25 sandwiched between disc-like plates 25 which are slightly smaller in diameter than the rubber or synthetic rubber flights 25 so as to terminate a short distance from the edge thereof. Bolt 21 and nuts 28 are provided for securing the conveyor flights including the rubber or synthetic rubber composition flights 25 and disc plates 26 to the laterally projecting lug 24 of the chain link 22. The flights are provided with radially extending cut out portions 29 for receiving the 4 rim of a sprocket wheel or gear wheel, whichever is used.

The conveyor displacing and guiding device ll (Figures 2, 3 and 4) has a pair of side Walls 3!! closed at one end by an end wall 3i and at the top by a top wall 32. The end and top walls 3i and 32 may be secured to the side walls 30 by rivets or the like or by welding. The other end wall is formed from a tubular conduit 33 which has its upper portion cut away to provide a semicircular portion 34 (Figure 4) which may be welded to the side walls 39 as at 35. Similarly, the bottom wall is formed from a tubular conduit 35 and is cut away to provide a semi-circular portion 3? adapted to be welded to the lower edges of the side walls 30 as at 38 (Figure 3). The lower corners of the side walls 31] are cut away and this portion of the housing is closed by an inclined wall or material slide 39 welded or otherwise secured in place with the lower portion of the side walls 30 welded to the tubular conduit 33 and to the semi-circular portion 3'! of the tubular conduit 35.

Formed in the side walls 39 is a pair of vertically arranged elongated slots 40 (Figures 3 and 4) for adjustably receiving a rotary shaft M which has its ends mounted in bearing blocks 42 carried by adjustable slide plates 43 mounted between guides or ways 44. The guides or ways 44 are constructed of angle bars 45 riveted to the side walls 38 as 45 and guide strips 41 are secured to the projecting flanges of the angle bars by rivets or the like 48 to slidably support the slide plates 43. Similarly, the bearing blocks 42 are riveted to the slide plates 43 as at 49 and are provided with relatively long tubular portions to provide large bearing surfaces for the rotary shaft 4!. Retaining collars 5B are secured to the ends of the rotary shaft 4| and held in place by set screws 5|. The upper ends of the slide plates 43 are flanged as at 52 (Figure 3) for receiving the lower ends of adjusting shafts 53 which extend vertically and pass through opening in bars 5 3 welded to the side walls 30 of the housing and at the end to the projecting flanges of the angle bars 45. Adjusting nuts 55 are threaded on the adjusting bolts 53 so that by turning the nuts 55, the rotary shaft ll will be elevated or lowered as desired.

The rotary shaft 4| i provided with a keyway for receiving a locking key 56 for locking the hub 57 of a pulley, gear or sprocket Wheel to the rotary shaft 41. In the present case, the sprocket wheel 58 is illustrated and is arranged so that its peripheral portion is aligned with a tubular conduit 33 at a point above the tubular conduit 36. The endless conveyor, including the endless sprocket chain 22 carrying the flight element 25 is adapted to be trained over the sprocket wheel 58, and in order that the endless sprocket element may travel in a sinuous zigzag path While traversing the bend between the vertical conduit I and the horizontal conduit 5, an idler pulley 60 is mounted adjacent the sprocket 58 with its peripheral portion above the center line of the conduit 36. The idler pulley 60 is provided with a grooved peripheral surface BI and shaped to conform to the contour of the disc-like conveyor elements 25. The idler pulley is secured to a shaft 62 which has its ends projecting through suitable openings in the side walls 30 of the device if so as to be supported in bearing blocks 63 similar to the bearing blocks 42. The bearing blocks 63 may be riveted or otherwise secured to the side walls 30 of the housing as at 64 and the assesse rotary shaft (i2 is limited path of material being handled while passing. Thematerial overflows.

about the sprocket 53; the upper edge 39a of the inclined wall or slide 39 and slides downwardly by gravity to the bottom wall 31 where it is again picked up by the flights on theendless conveyor element and conducted through the endless conduit 5. The tubular conduit-portions 33 and 36 are provided with flanges 33a andsfia for being bolted to the vertical and horizontal conveyor conduits l and 5 respectively.

- In order to carry out the same condition during the passage of the endless conveyor element from the-horizontal conduit 5 to the vertical conduit 8, the conveyor displacing and guiding device l2 as shown in Figures 1, 5 and 6 is provided and said device l2 includes an upper section having side wallstl connected by end walls 68 and B9 and at the top by a top wall iii. The upper housing' section is rectangular in shape, while the lower housing section is triangular and includes side walls H connected by a vertical end wall 12 and an inclined wall 13. The casing sections are adapted to be held together by a pair of vertical bars 74 secured in place by rivets 15 passing through the side walls 6? of the upper casing section and by rivets '56 passing through the side wall ll of the lower triangular casing section. Similarly, a pair of bars Tl are riveted to the inclined edges or the lower casing wall ll so that the" upper angular portion thereof '19 may be riveted to the upper casing side wall 67 by rivets or the like'as at 80. The joint between the casing sections is bridged by a pair or horizontal bars orstrips 8 l secured to the upper edges of the side walls H of the lower casing section by rivets as at82.

A pair of angle bars 83 are welded or otherwise secured to the side wall 6! of the upper casing section so that their flanges as at 84 will project laterally therefrom in opposite directions. ported by each of the oppositely extending flanges 84 isa divided bearing block 85 which is bolted to said flanges by bolts 85. Rotatably mounted in the bearing block 85 is a rotary shaft 81 which is provided on one end with a retaining collar 88 secured in place by a set screw or looking key as at 89. The other end or" the rotary shaft 8? projects beyond the bearing block 85 and has keyed thereto the hub Bil of a sprocket wheel 9i. Similarly, the hub 9'2 of a sprocket wheel 93 is keyed-to the intermediate portion of the rotary shaft 8l by means of a key and slot connection 94 and the peripheral or rim portion of the sprocket wheel 93 is mounted in alignment with the conduit section 95 extending through the end wa1l6-9-of the upper casing section l2. Extending between the angle bars 83 and secured thereto by welding-or the like isa platform 96 upon which the base of an electric motor 9'! is supported and secured by bolts or the like 98. The armature shaft 99 of the electric motor 91 is provided with a sprocket wheel mt over which is trained a sprocket. chain I05 for drivingly connecting the sprocket wheel 9|.

The'tubula'r conduit 95 is adapted to be welded against endwise move-- ment by retaining collars 65 mounted onthe ends or otherwise secured within anopeninginthe: end-wall 69 of theupper casing IZandisprovidedx with a flange 95a for being connected to'a com-e plementary flange on the-end ofthe upper-:hori zontalconveyor conduit 5.

cured to the lower portion of. the lower casing section and in order to secure the conduitsec tion I02 in place, a plate 103 isweldedioriotheiiwise secured to the lower edge: of the end wall 72, side walls H and inclinedwall 13; A flange. I04 is welded or otherwise secured to: theshort conveyor element and flights to the lower course after the material has been discharged through the opening in the under side of the horizontal conveyor conduit 5.

Mounted in the triangular-shaped lower sec-- tion of the device i2 is an idler pulley I05 which has its hub lfifi'secured by means of a set screwll'l to a rotary shaft Hi8. The ends ofthe rotary shaft H38 project through suitable openings in the side wall H similar to the shaft 8'! and aresupported in bearing blocks lfiil'riveted or otherwise secured to the side walls H by rivets H0. The bearing blocks i89-are provided with tubular bearing bosses H! to adequately support the rotary shaft I88 and retaining collars H2 are af-- fixed to the end of the rotary shaft 508 and held thereon by means of set screws H3. The idler pulley I is provided with a grooved peripheral portion of the conveyor flight elements 25 asillustrated clearly in Figure 6. Also, it is to be noted that the idler-pulley N35 is arranged with its axis offset vertically from the axis of the rotary shaft 81 so'that the endless conveyor element will travel in a sinuous path and will-be removed from the flow stream or path while negotiating the turn between the horizontalconveyor conduit 5 and the vertical conveyor conduit 8.

in the conveyor conduit 5 passes through the short conduit section 5 and into the upper portion of the device l2 where it falls by gravity toward the short conveyor conduit section I02 and is thence carried downwardly through the conveyor or conduit 8 by the endless conveyor flight. It will thus be seen that the material being handled after being freed from the conveyor flights, passes through the lower portion of the housing without contacting the sprocket wheel 93 or'without being deposited upon the rotary shaft 8'1, and that the sprocket wheel 93 and shaft 81 are entirely removed from the flow path so that the various bearing portions thereof will not be subjected to excessive wear when handling highly abrasive materials such as fly ash, carbon black, and the like.

It is to be understood that the invention may be applied to endless conveyors in which round, square or other flight elements are used and that when using conveyor structures having conveyor flights of different shapes, the sprocket wheels 58 and 93 may be eliminated and conveyor pulley drums provided having either a straight or curved peripheral face in accordance with the particular conveyor flight structure employed. Similarly, the grooved pulleys (it and 1295 may be replaced by either sprockets or idler pulleys, depending upon the shape of the conveyor-night, and if desired, the sprocket wheels 58 and ilsmay take Similarly, a short conduit section I02 is welded or otherwise se HA for engaging the peripheral edge Any material not being discharged through the discharge openings the form of a pulley having a V-shaped peripheral face providing a friction groove for engaging the peripheral edges of circular or disc-like conveyor flight elements. It is further to be understood that pairs of sprockets may be used in the housing I I as well as pairs of pulleys on the shafts 4| and 62, and similarly, pairs of sprockets or pulleys may be mounted on the shafts 81 and I58 of the housing I2, when using endless conveyor elements having certain types of conveyor flight elements other than those shown in the present application.

Description of the invention shown in Figures 7 to 9 inclusive In the modified form of the invention shown in Figures '7 to 9 inclusive, an L or Z-type conveyor structure is used employing the same idea as set forth in the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive. As shown in Figure 9, the endless conveyor conduit structure includes a pair ofvertically arranged parallel conduits H and IIS connected at the bottom by horizontal conduits H1 and H5 respectively. The ends of the conduits Ill and H8 are mounted in a suitable boot having an adjustable pulley or sprocket II which is movable from the full line position to the dotted line position for the purpose of taking up slack in the endless conveyor element movable through the Z-shaped conduits. A loading hopper I is provided adjacent one end of the conveyor conduits I IT for loading the endless conveyor so that the same will travel through the conduits H8 and H5 and thence through a horizontal conveyor conduit I2I to a dumping station and thence around a pulley I22 to a return conduit I23. The material is dumped into a tank or vat I24 as the conveyor traverses the pulley I22, and the structure for negotiating the turn between the vertically arranged parallel conduits H5 and H6 and the horizontal conduits IZI and I23 is illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 in detail. Let it be assumed that a conveyor displacing and guiding device, generally designated I is interposed between the vertically arranged conveyor conduits H5 and IIS and horizontally arranged conduits I2I and I23 so that the endless conveyor elements may travel in a continuous pathway from the loading station or hopper I25 to the discharge end or vat I24. The device I25 includes a pair of side walls I25 connected together by inclined upper and lower walls I21 and I23 respectively, the lower inclined wall 28 forming a material slide. The upper portions of the side walls I26 are connected by top walls I29 and I50 which are arranged at an angle to one another, and the inclined wall I35 is connected to the inclined wall I28 by means of a vertical wall I3! which also connects the side walls i2-5.

Similarly, a vertical wall I33 connects the upper inclined wall i2"! and extends between the side walls I25. The upper portion of the vertically arranged conveyor conduits IE5 and I I5 are provided with flanges I34 and I35 respectively to which are bolt-ed the lower ends of a pair of corn duit sections 5a and IIEa respectively. The

lower ends of the conduit sections I I5a and I Iiia are provided with flanges 36 and I3? which are bolted to the flanges I34 and I35 by bolts I38. he upper ends of the conduit sections 5a and 5c are cut on the bias and are welded to the inclined bottom wall I25 in registry with openings therein (Figure '7 Similarly, the conveyor conduit I2I is provided with a flange I39 which is bolted to a flange I40 on a short conduit section I4I which is cut away to provide a semi-circular portion I42. The semicircular portion I42 is welded or otherwise aflixed to the lower edges of the side walls I26 of the housing I25 as at I43. A supporting bracket I45 in the form of a strap iron is secured between the flanges I34, I and I35, I37, and is provided with openings in registry with the openings in the conduits I I5 and I it. The other end of the strap iron or bracket I45 is angled as at I45 and is passed between the flanges I39 and I of the pipe sections I2I and I4I so as to be held in place by bolts I 31. The angle portion I is likewise provided with an opening in registry with the openings in the tubular conduits I2I and MI.

Secured to the side walls I26 of the device I25 is a pair of angle bars I48 having a pair of bearing blocks I49 secured thereto for rotatably supporting a rotary shaft I50. The hubs I5I of a split pulley I52 with a rim of arcuate cross-section are keyed to the rotary shaft I50 the rim of the pulley I52 being arranged to provide a V- groove for gripping the peripheral portion of the conveyor flight element I51 as the endless conveyor I53 passes therearound. The endless conveyor I53 is slightly difierent from that shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, and comprises an endless conveyor chain having side bars I54 connected by pintle pins I55. The conveyor flights are secured to laterally projecting lugs I56 carried by the outer side bars or links I54. Each of the conveyor flights comprises a synthetic rubber or rubber disc I5? sandwiched between supporting plates I58 which are slightly smaller in diameter than the rubber or synthetic rubber disc I5! so as to terminate a short distance from the edge of said rubber or synthetic rubber flights. Suitable fastening means (not shown) such as bolts, nuts or the like, may be provided for securing the supporting plates I58 and rubber or synthetic rubber flight members I51 to the laterally projecting lugs I56. The conveyor flights are provided with radial slots for the purpose of straddling the endless conveyor chain I53 and positioning the flights with respect to the chain so that the chain passes through a point offset from the center thereof.

It will thus be seen that the endless conveyor chain I53 will travel upwardly through the tubular conduits I I6, I Ifia and into the housing I25 where it passes over the split grooved pulley I52 with the arcuately curved rim I52. After the endless conveyor passes around the split grooved pulley, it passes downwardly and is trained over an idler sprocket I59 which has its hub I60 keyed to a rotary shaft IEI as at I62. The ends of the shaft I6I project through suitable openings in the side walls I25 and are supported in bearing blocks I63 which have their bases secured to the flanges of the angle bars I48, by means of machine screws or the like I64. It is to be noted that the axis of the shaft I6I is oilfset vertically from the axis of the shaft I50 and is arranged so that the endless conveyor chain I53 will travel around the sprocket I59 with the teeth of the sprocket engaging the pintle pins I55. While passing around the sprocket I59, the rubber or synthetic rubber conveyor flights I5! pick up the material and convey the same along the conveyor pathway through the conduit I2I. It is to be noted that durin the upward travel of the conveyor chain I53, through the conveyor conduits H6 and H611, the material will overflow the conveyor conduit IISa and pass downwardly along the inclined wall or ma- ,9 terial slide i28. The'material then drops to the semicircular bottom wall I42 and is in position to be picked up by the conveyor flights I? for being conveyed to the conveyor conduit I2I.

The material thus passes through a discharge adjacent the pulley I22 and'falls in the vat I24. The endless chain or conveyor return conduit I23 is provided with a flange I65 whichis bolted to the flange I5? of a coupling sleeve I68. A short section of the tubular conduit I99 is mounted in the coupling I68 and is provided with a flange I'IIl which is adapted to be bolted to the coupling flange I'll of a short section of tubular conduit H2 which is'weldedto-the inclined wall l2? in registry with an opening thereof for permitting return passage of the endless conveyor chain I53 to the casing or housing I25, where it passes over a sprocket wheel I13, the hub of which as at IE4 is keyed to a shaft I75 as at I15. The shaft I15 extends through suitable openings in the side walls I26 of the housing and has its ends journalled in bearings formed in bearing blocks Iii; secured to the flanges of the angle bars i 38. After the endless conveyor chain i53 and conveyor flight pass over the sprocket wheel N3, the conveyor chain travels thendownwardly through the short tubular conduit section Him and tubular conduit H5 to the horizontal portion Ii'i (Figure 9) to a point beneath the loading hopper I29. A bracket arm IE9 is secured to the'upper inclined walls I2! of the housin M5 and .is-provided oniits free end with an opening adapted to register with the conveyor passageway in the conduit sections I69 and I112. The free ends of the bracket are clamped between the coupling flanges I and Iii of the short tubular conduit sections I99 and I72.

In the event that it is desiredtto use an endless conveyor having conveyor nights arranged as shown in Figure lllpthe sprocket wheel I89 (Figure 19) may be substituted for the pulley shown in Figures '7 and-8. When using an endless conveyor having spaced rectangular conveyor flights I8i, a slightly different structure will be necessary and would require the conduit in the forms of the invention shown in .Figures 1 to 9 inclusive to be formed of rectangular cross-section, rather than round section. In Figure 10, an endless conveyorchain is shown being composed of inner and outer links 532 and I83 respectively, connected by pintle pins kid. The outer links I83 are provided with laterally extending projections 35 to which the flights 53! are bolted or otherwise secured as at i635. -It will thus be seen that the conveyor structure shown in Figures 1 to 9 inclusive may be provided with an endless conveyor having flights as shown in Figure 10, and

that when employing such a conveyor element, sprocket wheels I and 8. When employingthe conveyor flight 199 of rectangular shape, a conveyor chain will .be used having-inner and outer links I93 and I94 respectively connected by pintle pins I95 spaced by rollers I96. As shown in the case of theconwill be substituted for the grooved pulleys til and H (Figures 1 to 6 inveyor chain in Figure .19, ,the outerlinks I94 are provided with lateral .prolections I91 to which the rectangular flights I99are-bo1tedas at I98. The peripheral portion I99of the pulley I9I is provided with a rubber face 200 for frictionally grippin the conveyor .chain and flight as the same travel thereover. In order tocarry out the scheme shown in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, '7 and 8, it will be necessary to substitute the pulley I9I (Figure 11) for the sprocket 53 (Figures 1 to 6 inclusive) and alter the shape of the peripheral face of the idler pulley I6I. Similarly, in employing the type of flight 199 shown in Figure 11, in the form of .the invention shown in Figures 7 and 8, thepulley ISI may be substituted for the divided pulley I 62 and'an idler drum may be substituted for-.the'sprocket I 59.

In Figure 12,-thereis shown in detail the endless flight conveyor I53 which is identical with the form showninFignres 7 .and 8 including the flight element I51 formed of rubber'or synthetic rubber having the metal plates I58 on each side thereof. The flight :element I51 and the metal plates lee are radially slotted as at I58a for the purpose of straddling the links I54 of the conveyor iii-3. The pintle pins I55 are provided for connecting the inner and outer links similar to Figures 10 and 11. As shown in Figure I2,-a sprocket 2-3! may be substituted for the divided pulley l52 (Figures 7 and 8) similar to Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, and in this event the idler sprocket 59 (Figures v'7 and 8) -may be removed and provided witha groovedpulley similar to that shown'in Figures 1 to 6 inclusive, as at 6|. Thus, it will be seen that in'using'the sprocket Eili in either form of the invention Figures 1 to 6 or 7 to 9 inclusive, the divided pulley I52 (Figures 7 and 8) will'be omittedand the sprocket E59 (Figures 7 and 8) 'willbe changed or removed and the grooved pulley provided therefor.

In the flight conveyor shown in Figure .13, there is a pulley 292 havingan arcuately grooved face 293 which may be substituted for the sprocket 58 and pulley I52 (Figures '1 to 6,and V and respectively) when employing a cable type endless conveyor in which a flexible wire cable is provided with round flight members 295 formed of rubber-or synthetic rubber backed by metal plates or discs 206 on each side thereof. In this form of conveyor structure, theconveyor flights are spaced by rubber spacers 2i)? mount-- ed on the flexible wire core 204. When using an endless structure as shown in Figure 13, in neither of the'forms of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 6 and -'7 -to'9 will'it benecessary-to provide grooved idler pulleys-similar to the idler pulleys BI shown in Figures l-to-6 inclusive. Of course, the sprocketiit (Figures 1 to 6 inclusive) may be removed and the pulley 262 substituted therefor.

Applicant has shown a number of ways :in which the invention may be carriedout'and appiied to all types of conveyor structuresemploying flexible endlessconveyor elements provided with conveyor flights in equidistantly spaced rela tion thereon.

It isto be understood that the forms'of the invention herewithshown and described .are to be taken as preferred embodiments'thereof and that various changes mayabemacle in the shape. size and arrangementofiparts withoutdeparting from the spirit of-theinvention orthe scope of the subioined claims.

What I claim is:

1. A conveyor-structure comprising a circuitous" conveyor conduit having at least one abrupt bend, a flight conveyor movably mounted in said conduit and having an endless flexible propelling member with spaced conveyor flights mounted thereon, a housing interposed in said bend of said conveyor conduit, said housing having an inlet in the upper portion thereof and an outlet in the lower portion thereof for the entrance and exit respectively of said flight conveyor, a material slide extending downwardly from said inlet toward said outlet, and upper and lower guide wheels journaled one below the other in said housing and positioned to guide said flight con-- veyor in a sinuous path away from the material pathway down said slide between said inlet and said outlet, said lower guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said slide for directing said flight conveyor into close proximity to said slide whereby to again pick up the con veyed material which has slid down the side after the material-freed conveyor has passe around said guide wheels and convey the regainc material outward from said housing through sail outlet.

2. A conveyor structure comprising a circuitous; conveyor conduit having at least one abrupt bend, a flight conveyor movably mounted in said conduit and having an endless flexible propelling member with spaced conveyor flights mounted thereon, a housing interposed in said bend of said conveyor conduit, said housing having an inlet in the upper portion thereof and an cutie:- in the lower portion thereof for the entrance and exit respectively of said flight conveyor, a material slide extending downwardly from said inlet toward said outlet, and upper and lower guide wheels journaled one below the other in said housing and positioned to guide said flight conveyor in a sinuous path away from the material pathway down said slide between said in let and said outlet, said lower guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said slide for directing said flight conveyor into close prox imity to said slide whereby to again pick up the conveyed material which has slid down the slide after the material-freed conveyor has passed around said guide wheels and convey the regained material outward from said housing through said outlet, one of said guide wheels having sprocket teeth engaging said flexible propelling member and the other guide wheel having a plain peripheral surface engaging the conveyor flights and guiding the conveyor.

3. A conveyor structure comprising a circuitous conveyor conduit having at least one abrupt bend, a flight conveyor movably mounted in said conduit and having an endless flexible propelling member with spaced conveyor flights mounted thereon, a housing interposed in said bend of said conveyor conduit, said housing having an inlet in the upper portion thereof and an outlet in the lower portion thereof for the entrance and exit respectively of said flight conveyor, a material slide extending downwardly from said inlet toward said outlet, and upper and lower guide wheels journaled one below the other in said housing and positioned to guide said flight conveyor in a sinuous path away from the material pathway down said slide between said inlet and said outlet, said lower guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said slide for directing said flight conveyor into close prox imity to said slide whereby to again pick up the conveyed material which has slid down the slide after the material-freed conveyor has passed.

around said guide wheels and convey the regained material outward from said housing through said outlet, one of said guide wheels having sprocket teeth engaging said flexible propelling member and the other guide wheel having a grooved peripheral surface engaging the conveyor flights and guiding the conveyor.

4. A conveyor structure comprising a circuitous conveyor conduit having at least one abrupt bend, a flight conveyor movably mounted in said conduit and having an endless flexible propelling member with spaced conveyor flights mounted thereon, a housing interposed in said bend of said conveyor conduit, said housing having an inlet in the upper portion thereof and an outlet in the lower portion thereof for the entrance and exit respectively of said flight conveyor, a material slide extending downwardly from said inlet toward said outlet, and upper and lower guide wheels journaled one below the other in said housing and positioned to guide said flight conveyor in a sinuous path away from the material pathway down said slide between said inlet and said outlet, said lower guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said slide for directing said flight conveyor into close proximity to said slide whereby to again pick up the conveyed material which has slid down the slide after the material-freed conveyor has passed around said guide wheels and convey the regained material outward from said housing through said outlet, said guide wheels having grooved peripheral surfaces engaging the conveyor flights and guiding the conveyor.

5. In a conveyor structure comprising a tubular duct arranged in a circuitous-shaped pathway having an abrupt turn at the upper and lower ends thereof, a casing interposed in said pathway having a pair of inlets and a pair of outlets in communication with said circuitous tubular duct, an endless flexible conveyor element operating in said duct, a series of flight elements secured to said endless flexible conveyor element for propelling material through said circuitous duct from a loading station to a dumping station, a guide wheel in said casing for caus ing the conveyor element to be moved out of the flow path of said material, a guide wheel mounted below said first-mentioned guide wheel for returning said flexible conveyor element to said flow path, and a material slide in said casing extending downwardly from one of said inlets toward one of said outlets for directing material toward the floor of said casing, said second guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said material slide for directing said flight conveyor element into close proximity thereto so that the material falling down said material slide will be again picked up and conveyed to said dumping station, the other of said inlets and the other of said outlets being disposed above said material slide.

6. In a conveyor structure comprising a tubular duct arranged in a circuitous-shaped pathway having an abrupt turn at the upper and lower ends thereof, a casing interposed in said pathway having a pair of inlets and a pair of outlets in communication with said circuitous tubular duct, an endless flexible conveyor element operating in said duct, a series of flight elements secured to said endless flexible conveyor element for propelling material through said circuitous duct from a loading station to a dumping station, a guide wheel in said casing for causing the conveyor element to be moved out of the flow path of said material, a guide wheel mounted below said first-mentioned guide wheel for returning said flexible conveyor element to said flow path, a material slide in said casing extending downwardly from one of said inlets toward one of said outlets for directing material toward the floor of said casing, said second guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said material slide for directing said flight conveyor element into close proximity thereto so that the material falling down said material slide will be again picked up and conveyed to said dumping station, the other of said inlets and the other of said outlets being disposed above said material slide, and a third guide wheel in the upper end of said casing for guiding the return course of said flexible endless conveyor through the other of said pair of inlets and outlets to said loading station.

7. In a conveyor structure comprising a tubular duct arranged in a circuitous-shaped pathway having an abrupt turn at the upper and lower ends thereof, a casing interposed in said pathway having a pair of inlets and a pair of outlets in communication with said circuitous tubular duct, an endless flexible conveyor element operating in said duct, a series of flight elements secured to said endless flexible conveyor element for propelling material through said circuitous duct from a loading station to a dumping station, a guide wheel in said casing for causing the conveyor element to be moved out of the flow 14 path of said material, a guide wheel mounted below said first-mentioned guide wheel for returning said flexible conveyor element to said flow path, and a material slide in said casing extending downwardly from one of said inlets toward one of said outlets for directing material toward the floor of said casing, said second guide wheel being positioned near the lower portion of said material slide for directing said flight conveyor element into close proximity thereto so that the material falling down said material slide will be again picked up and conveyed to said dumping station, the other of said inlets and the other of said outlets being disposed above said material slide, said firstmentioned pair of inlets and outlets being arranged With the inlet disposed above the outlet so that the material will fall by gravity to the lower portion of said casing.

HENRY W. HAPMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,245,073 Hapman June 10, 1941 2,429,549 Hapman Oct. 21, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 524,058 Great'Britain July 29, 1940 

